Irish Tennis Updates Podcast · Adam Wade

Conor Niland on his Book, "The Racket"

August 11, 2024·27 min·2 clips

Conor Niland discusses his new book 'The Racket' and Ireland's upcoming Davis Cup tie against Tunisia.

The episode opens with host Adam introducing Conor Niland and his new book 'The Racket', published in June. Niland describes the busy two months since its release, including a promotional trip to Wimbledon where he was interviewed in the Centre Court commentary box. He explains the book's origin: approached by a publisher eight years ago, he started writing during COVID, with an initial 10-page scene set in Kyoto. The process involved creating a 60-page outline, then working with writer Calvin Cooney from The42.ie for about a year and a half. Niland notes his English degree from Berkeley helped with the prose. He relied on ITF website records and memory for research, omitting some material for narrative flow. The host asks about the value of traveling with other players; Niland lists practical advantages like warm-up partners and scouting, plus psychological benefits. He recounts the chaotic experience of flying to Australian Open qualifying as an alternate, eventually getting in but losing a close match. Niland recalls training with Andy Murray in 2010, which boosted his confidence. A humorous anecdote involves being asked if he played tennis full-time after qualifying for Wimbledon. Reflecting on his career, Niland identifies a key decision: at 16, he chose boarding school at Millfield in England over Bollettieri's academy, which he believes limited his exposure to top players. The conversation shifts to current events: as Davis Cup captain, he previews Ireland's September tie against Tunisia on clay, noting underdog status but confidence in players like Michael Agwi. They discuss the return of the Irish Open after five years, with Niland calling it a 'bare minimum' step toward more tournaments. The episode concludes with thanks and a plug for the book.

As heard by us

A calm book chat with a little timely Irish tennis.

Conor Nyland and Adam keep this one grounded in the book itself. The Racket, out since the start of June, gets a calm, affectionate hearing, with Adam's enthusiasm carrying the conversation without tipping it into sales talk.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a book chat that still feels like a proper tennis conversation.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Irish Tennis Updates Podcast